IF HE'D EATEN THAT BUCK-N-O BURGER ON CAMERA HE'D BE OVER 50%:

BUSH OUT OF THE BOX (DEBORAH ORIN, July 9, 2006, NY Post)

"Tony [Snow] has chilled the White House press corps - and that is some Snow job if you ask me," said Democrat Bill Clinton's star press secretary, Mike McCurry, one of the best White House spinmeisters in memory. [...]

Over the past few weeks, Bush has gone on CNN's "Larry King Live" for the first time in two years, stopped at a Dunkin' Donuts for coffee and a kiddie stand for lemonade - buying for reporters both times - and held an unusual Chicago press conference where local reporters were invited.

He also scored a presidential first worthy of Clinton: touring Elvis Presley's home in Memphis, Tenn., with Japan's Elvis-fanatic Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who did a little bopping.

Expect more of the same all summer as Bush scales back his usual month out of sight at his Texas ranch to spend more time on the road getting close to voters - the kind of images that TV loves.

Just yesterday, Bush and wife Laura showed up unexpectedly at the Washington Nationals game against the San Diego Padres. Unlike Bush's previous visits to RFK Stadium, there was no red, white and blue bunting in front of his box, and there was no advance warning to anyone, including the reporters accompanying his motorcade.

Donuts, baseball and Elvis shut the press up? I oughtta be president....

Posted by Orrin Judd at July 9, 2006 3:26 PM